Which stump grinder next!?

[Robbinson]

Hello all, I’m looking at changing one of the machines in the fleet of stump grinders, currently running a bandit zt1844 for the bigger stumps and looking to change it up. I’m really stuck on which to choose next. Options are 

fsi d30 

predator p38x 

bandit sg40 

jo beau 37-110 

 

looking for any advice from people who have used the above machines before. All these machines are relatively narrow and on tracks except the fsi. Tracks are great for getting to those hard to reach areas but I find they struggle on curbs and drops etc also they tear up lawns badly. Looking for a machine that you don’t have to tension belts every week etc and has great build quality that’s backed up by reasonable costs for spare parts. 

[swinny]

Curious to know how you've gotten o  with the bandit if you don't mind please? 

 

Wheels struggle on kerbs also... just need a few bist of 3x2 to help take the height out of it. With tracks I take it you take a board with you to turn o  the grass and always track straight.

[Robbinson]

The bandit is very good, when the belts are tight it grinds very quickly and you can get it into almost anywhere boggy etc could swing slightly wider and grind a touch deeper but generally it’s awesome bit of kit. Only downside is the belts seem to go loose quite quickly and it’s annoying having to tighten them that soon, none of my other grinders go slack this quick, this issue has been solved in the sg40 though. 

[swinny]

The belt issue sucks then.... I thought there was a tensioner upgrade for that model?

 

I know what you mean on the grind depth being only 12"

 

The predator are 18" I think which is great and a good upgrade but weigh 1t.... do that's to consider when going over flags or over edges, across lawns etc... 

 

Hard decision and place to be! I've been sat on the fence for a long while and battle my way along with a vermeer sc252 and tackled allsorts! 

 

If I could just find something that would suit! 

 

Good luck

 

 

[mrstumpy]

From my experience it is a choice between FSI and Predator.  The Predator are very easy to obtain parts for and have excellent backup all over the country with good performance.
 

The FSI have good parts supply, well built and perform well.

 

Give the others a miss.

 

[PeteB]

GreenPlant have recently become the new Rayco dealer and I e heard that they have a good reputation with their Parts department on other makes.

[Steve Bullman]

Raycos are great machines. I clocked up quite a few hours on the RG50 several years ago. Will be good to see them being pushed by Green Plant.

[Robbinson]

I currently run two other raycos and cannot fault them! They have been bullet proof and I have given them more hard than a whores heart, only issue is they get quite big/wide when you start going up the horsepower range 😞

[PC Treescapes]

We have found our p38x great, vari tracks great for access and narrow gaps, good sweep and depth. If I was buying again though, I think I would spend the extra on the remote control, as manual lever controls can make your fingers stiff after a full day's grinding, other than that, love it

[PC Treescapes]

...meant to say, had it a couple of years now. Peter